Your Right to Know

French investigating magistrates questioned former President Nicolas Sarkozy for 12 hours
yesterday about allegations that he received illegal donations toward his 2007 election
campaign.

The hearing in the city of Bordeaux concerned allegations that Sarkozy received cash-stuffed
envelopes from billionaire Liliane Bettencourt, heiress to the L’Oreal fortune, either directly or
through intermediaries.

Sarkozy, 57, has vigorously denied receiving about $192,000 toward his campaign from the
90-year-old Bettencourt, who was placed under legal guardianship last year after doctors said she
was suffering from dementia. Under French law, individual campaign contributions are capped at
about $5,900.